Recapping religion at the 87th Academy Awards. Common thanks God in his acceptance speech, but Steven Spielberg is the most thanked entity. Jesus appears during Patricia Arquette’s speech.
Common and John Legend won the 2015 Oscar for Best Original Song for “Glory” from the film Selma. They delivered a powerful acceptance speech that made eyes water throughout the theater.
Common began his acceptance speech praising God, while John Legend did not thank a higher being. In a 2008 interview, Legend said “I grew up in a religious home, but I’m not religious right now.”
Well said, @common. #Oscars pic.twitter.com/FtN5ay4b9Y
— The Academy (@TheAcademy) February 23, 2015
Well said. @johnlegend. #Oscars pic.twitter.com/juJ4QZzsnZ
— The Academy (@TheAcademy) February 23, 2015
Common is only the fifth person in the last 13 years to thank God as the first entity in his acceptance speech. The Academy is most commonly the first entity thanked. They are, after all, the ones who vote on the winners.
However, regardless of when God is thanked, God is the sixth most thanked entity, according to Vocativ, who analyzed almost 1,400 available acceptance speeches.
Notably, at the 86th Academy Awards, Matthew McConaughey immediately thanked God “’cause that’s who I look up to,” after accepting the Actor in a Leading Role award for Dallas Buyers Club.
Who is the most thanked person? Steven Spielberg.
Another hot topic of the night is Patricia Arquette’s acceptance speech, in which she called on “every woman who gave birth to every taxpayer and citizen of this nation” to fight for equal rights and wage equality for American women.
A long-haired Jared Leto, who presented her with the award for Best Supporting Actress, can be seen in the background of her speech, sparking this tweet about Jesus:
Rare photo of Jesus blessing Patricia Arquette during her acceptance speech. pic.twitter.com/C4nr8Pp9Az
— Tim Lyzen (@TLyzen) February 23, 2015
Rapper and religion professor Bun B published a video last week with his Oscar predictions.